Helicopter crash kills two soldiers in Texas

A military grade Apache helicopter reportidely crashed in Texas on Wednesday, according to KHOU.

According toKXAN, the Texas Army National Guard reports the helicopter crash occurred just before 4 P.M. on December 28.

Pasadena Fire marshal David Brannon told reporters the helicopter went into the water shortly before 4 p.m.

The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 149th Attack Helicopter Battalion at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base near Houston, Webb said. Video shows a Coast Guard helicopter and dive teams are at the scene, along with first responders stationed on shore at the Bayport Cruise Terminal.

A witness told local media they saw a cloud of black smoke in the air right before the helicopter went into the water.

The cause of the crash is unknown.

Although the two men, who were not identified because their families had not yet been contacted, have been located, the national guard said they have not been able to recover their bodies yet.

'All we know is our pilots are highly trained, highly qualified veterans that have been flying this aircraft for many years'.

Officials confirmed to the Houston Chronicle the helicopter was an Apache: a two-seater attack helicopter capable of firing machine guns and rockets.

The crash is still under investigation.

The names of the helicopter crew members were being withheld until family could be notified, Army National Guard spokeswoman Sgt. Elizabeth Pena said.